THE RUNOFF; G.O.P. Hard at Work in Georgia

By SARAH WHEATON

Published: November 13, 2008

CORRECTION APPENDED

The National Republican Senatorial Committee is not leaving anything to chance in Georgia, where one of the three outstanding Senate races is heading toward a runoff on Dec. 2. On Wednesday, the group began running a new commercial attacking Jim Martin, top, the Democratic challenger, on his tax record in the Georgia General Assembly.

The incumbent, Senator Saxby Chambliss, received a plurality of votes on Nov. 4, but he did not win a majority, making a runoff the next step. The senatorial committee's television advertisement features a bluesy soundtrack and ends with pictures of Mr. Martin, Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York and Speaker Nancy Pelosi as an announcer says, ''With unchecked power hanging in the balance, Georgia can't afford another liberal like Jim Martin in Washington.''

Another advertisement, this one on the Web, called ''It All Comes Down to Georgia,'' is set against a gloomy soundtrack and warns about Democrats winning a veto-proof majority in the Senate. The closing shot shows Mr. Martin shaking his fists, hair mussed -- an ominous image that could help the committee bring in money from weary donors.

Senator John McCain of Arizona was set to campaign for Mr. Chambliss on Thursday, and Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas, is expected on Sunday. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that President-elect Barack Obama is leaving his state offices open for Mr. Martin's use, and some of his aides will campaign for the candidate, but Mr. Obama is unlikely to appear on his behalf. SARAH WHEATON

PHOTOS

Correction: November 15, 2008, Saturday
A report in The Caucus column on Thursday about a Senate runoff election in Georgia referred incorrectly to the content of an advertisement by the National Republican Senatorial Committee. The ad warns in general terms about Democrats' having sweeping power in the Senate; it does not specifically warn against their winning a ''veto-proof majority.'' (The Democrats are focusing on winning 60 seats, which would protect them from a Republican-led filibuster.)